Good, fluid motion and arm action; creates easy velo. Quick arm speed. Tends to get on top of the ball too much, causing him to miss down.

Evaluator

Jeff Moore

Report Date

06/17/2014

Affiliate

Brevard County Manatees (High A, Brewers)

Dates Seen

5/21/14

OFP

50

Realistic

45, Middle Reliever

Video

No

Pitch Type

Present Grade

Future Grade

Sitting Velocity

Peak Velocity

Report

Fastball

45

55

92-94

94

Four-seam variety is relatively straight. Consistent velocity. Thrown with good control but not command. Player throws a lot of bad strikes with the pitch. Can be an above-average pitch with improved command.

Curveball

50

60

78-79

Pitch features true 12-6 movement, straight down. Player generates good spin on the ball. Does a good job of keeping it down. Not a big swing-and-miss pitch but will generate ground balls when low in the zone.

Change-up

30

40

87-89

Gets a low grade because, essentially, it's not a change-up. Looks and moves like a two-seamer, but was told by a teammate it's his change-up and is thrown with a change-up grip. Has arm-side fade consistent with both pitches, but thrown way to hard. Not nearly enough differential between fastball and change-up. If classified as a two-seamer, it's still below average, but a usable pitch. As a change-up, it's virtually non-existent.

Overall

Lopez has a good arm and is still learning how to use it. He's throwing strikes much more consistently now than in his past, and as they begin to become better strikes, he'll be more effective. The curveball is a second potential above-average, maybe even a plus, pitch. The change-up, or lack thereof, was puzzling. I had it classified as a two-seam fastball for the first few innings until I asked his teammate if he threw a change-up and was informed that he had been throwing it all along. Regardless of pitch classification, Lopez didn't throw anything off-speed to keep hitters honest or combat left-handed hitters. The fastball/curveball combo give him the start of a mid-rotation starter package, but until he comes up with something soft to throw, it's a middle-relief profile.